Snowboarder dies at Heavenly
A Southern California man died Tuesday while snowboarding at Heavenly Mountain Resort.
An autopsy showed Wyatt James Colvard, 18, of Fountain Valley died due to internal injuries from blunt force trauma, according to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies and Tahoe Douglas paramedics were called to Boulder Lodge on Feb. 4 at 11:45am to help an injured boarder. Advanced life support could not save him.
According to deputies, witnesses said they found Wyatt lying in the snow unconscious and he was having a difficult time breathing. Ski patrol transported Colvard down the hill to awaiting paramedics.
Deputies are investigating the death.
— Lake Tahoe News staff report
How many deaths is that at Heavenly so far this year? How about the other resorts? Seems to me that there have been several. What’s causing so many deaths this year? Is it the low snowfall? Is these numbers that people are trying to keep quiet/secret?
I hear this was an employee from Northstar. Ski patrol spends a lot of time assessing the snow conditions. If there is a rope up it’s for good reason. Duck that and you could loose your pass or maybe even your life. The tree will always win. Very sad that he was so young. RIP
I think there is plenty of deaths every year at ski resorts, they are just secretive about it, nothing new.
Wyatt did work at Northstar, as did I. We met on the TART bus heading home.
He was a sweet person with a special spirit.
His dream was to save up enough money working at Northstar this winter, to go to Hawaii to live and work on an organic farm this coming summer.
RIP.